Sydney, Apr 6: Brazil has reportedly sent out thousands of soldiers in armoured vehicles, trucks and on foot across a notorious Rio de Janeiro slum to drive away drug gangs and increase security before the World Cup.

The notorious Mare shanty town, home to 130,000 people, is a haven for organised crime and one of the city’s most dangerous neighbourhoods, located near Rio’s international airport, and is a potential route for soccer fans flying in and out of the metropolis, which will stage seven World Cup matches, including the July 13 final.

According to News.com.au, almost 2700 soldiers, sailors and military police from the Special Police Operations Battalion, backed by guns, helicopters and armoured vehicles, stormed the slum on Saturday to take over the huge operation.

The report mentioned that residents went about their business during the operation, occasionally poking their heads out of windows to watch the soldiers as they entered their vast favela.

Brazil will face Croatia a little more than two months from now, in the World Cup curtain-raiser on June 12, the report added. (ANI)